Hideki Kuriyama was issued a stern warning and a 100,000 yen fine by the commissioner's office for his ejection from a game against Hanshin on the 25th -- he argued an HBP call in the 9th and was tossed for using offensive language.

Brian Wolfe could return to the active roster in time for a start against Chunichi at Sapporo Dome on the 31st, depending on how his workouts over the next couple of days go. Since he has been traveling with the Ichi-gun team since the 24th, there is a good chance he will not pitch at Ni-gun before he makes his return.

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani is officially listed on the All-Star ballot as an outfielder. Fans will be able to pencil in votes for him as a pitcher, but cannot list him twice on one ballot. If he is the top vote-getter at two positions, the position with the most votes will be his primary position. Being a two-position player could hurt Otani if it splits the total number of votes he gets between two positions.

Kuriyama would like to see Otani make the All-Star roster, but told reporters on Monday that he can not be the one that puts him there because there are other players that are more deserving -- as manager of the PL team, Kuriyama will get to select nine players.

A pool will be installed at Kamagaya Stadium. It will be located in the foul area outfield seats on the first base side and will be twelve meters long, five meters high, and fifty centimeters deep. The pool will be unveiled on July 14 (Ni-gun game vs Rakuten).

Kazuhisa Makita is currently slated to start a game against Yakult at Seibu Dome on the 31st. The coaches decided to give him a couple days of extra rest after he took a batted ball off his right knee during a game against Hiroshima on the 22nd.

Ryoma Nogami will take Makita's original start on the 29th against Yokohama at Yokohama.

Masahiro Tanaka will likely pitch on five days of rest during the remaining Inter-league schedule. That could mean starts on June 3 (vs Chunichi at Kleneex), June 9 (vs Yomiuri at Tokyo Dome), June 15 or 16 (vs Hanshin at Kleenex).